Method and system for assisting a data processing system user in browsing a file system

A system for assisting a user of a data processing system in browsing a file system, the system comprising:

• a browsing event interceptor program module for intercepting browsing events from a browsing program module interacting with the file system, the browsing event interceptor program module intercepting at least a browsing starting location and a browsing target location;
• a browsing history database of browsing starting locations and links to associated browsing target locations obtained from past browsing activities by the user;
• a browsing history database manager program module for managing the database according to the browsing events intercepted by the browsing event interceptor program module, said database manager program module:
• managing the storage in the database of browsing starting locations and links to associated browsing target locations intercepted by the browsing event interceptor program module;
• retrieving from the database stored browsing target location links associated with an intercepted browsing starting location intercepted in a current browsing;
• proposing to the user, through a user interface program module allowing the user to interact with the browsing program module through input/output devices of the data processing system, a list of shortcuts to the retrieved browsing target locations.

A system for assisting a user of a data processing system in browsing a file system, the system comprising:

• means for intercepting browsing events from a browsing program module interacting with the file system, the browsing event intercepting means intercepting at least a browsing starting location and a browsing target location;
• a database of browsing starting locations and links to associated browsing target locations obtained from past browsing by the user;
• means for managing the database according to the browsing events intercepted by the browsing event interceptor program module, said database managing means:
• managing the storage in the database of browsing starting locations and links to associated browsing target locations intercepted by the browsing event intercepting means;
• retrieving from the database stored browsing target location links associated with an intercepted browsing starting location intercepted in a current browsing;
• proposing to the user, through a user interface program module allowing the user to interact with the browsing program module through input/output devices of the data processing system, a list of shortcuts to the retrieved browsing target locations.

A system for browsing a file system, the system comprising:

• a browsing program module interacting with the file system;
• a browsing event interceptor program module for intercepting browsing events from the browsing program module, the browsing event interceptor program module intercepting at least a browsing starting location and a browsing target location;
• a database of browsing starting locations and links to associated browsing target locations obtained from past browsing activities by the user;
• a browsing history database manager program module for managing the database according to the browsing events intercepted by the browsing event interceptor program module, said database manager program module:
• managing the storage in the database of browsing starting locations and links to associated browsing target locations intercepted by the browsing event interceptor program module;
• retrieving from the database stored browsing target location links associated with an intercepted browsing starting location intercepted in a current browsing;
• proposing to the user a list of shortcuts to the retrieved browsing target locations.

A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform a method for assisting a user of a data processing system in browsing a file system by means of a browsing program, the method comprising:

• creating a browsing history database by intercepting browsing events from the browsing program, the browsing history database including browsing starting locations and links to associated browsing target locations reached by the user in the browsing;
• when the user starts a browsing:
• intercepting from the browsing program a current browsing starting location;
• searching the intercepted browsing starting location in the database;
• if the intercepted browsing starting location is found in the database, retrieving from the database a list of links to the browsing target locations associated with the intercepted browsing starting location, and proposing to the user the retrieved list of links in the form of shortcuts, which the user can activate for speedily reaching the desired browsing target location.